As-Saffat

wal-ṣāfāti ṣaffan

By those [angels] ranged in rows,

fal-zājirāti zajran

who rebuke reproachfully

fal-tāliyāti dhik'ran

and recite God’s word,

inna ilāhakum lawāḥidun

truly your God is One,

rabbu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā warabbu l-mashāriqi

Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between them, Lord of every sunrise.

innā zayyannā l-samāa l-dun'yā bizīnatin l-kawākibi

We have adorned the lowest heaven with stars,

waḥif'ẓan min kulli shayṭānin māridin

and made them a safeguard against every rebellious devil:

lā yassammaʿūna ilā l-mala-i l-aʿlā wayuq'dhafūna min kulli jānibin

they cannot eavesdrop on the Higher Assembly––pelted from every side,

duḥūran walahum ʿadhābun wāṣibun

driven away, they will have perpetual torment––

illā man khaṭifa l-khaṭfata fa-atbaʿahu shihābun thāqibun

if any [of them] stealthily snatches away a fragment, he will be pursued by a piercing flame.

fa-is'taftihim ahum ashaddu khalqan am man khalaqnā innā khalaqnāhum min ṭīnin lāzibin

So [Prophet], ask the disbelievers: is it harder to create them than other beings We have created? We created them from sticky clay.

bal ʿajib'ta wayaskharūna

You marvel as they scoff,

wa-idhā dhukkirū lā yadhkurūna

take no heed when they are warned,

wa-idhā ra-aw āyatan yastaskhirūna

and resort to ridicule when they see a sign,

waqālū in hādhā illā siḥ'run mubīnun

saying, ‘This is no more than blatant sorcery.’

a-idhā mit'nā wakunnā turāban waʿiẓāman a-innā lamabʿūthūna

‘What! After we have died and become dust and bones, shall we really be raised up again,

awaābāunā l-awalūna

along with our forefathers?’

qul naʿam wa-antum dākhirūna

Say, ‘Yes indeed, and you will be humiliated.’

fa-innamā hiya zajratun wāḥidatun fa-idhā hum yanẓurūna

Just one blast and––lo and behold!––they will look

waqālū yāwaylanā hādhā yawmu l-dīni

and say, ‘Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgement.’

hādhā yawmu l-faṣli alladhī kuntum bihi tukadhibūna

[It will be said], ‘This is the Day of Decision, which you used to deny.

uḥ'shurū alladhīna ẓalamū wa-azwājahum wamā kānū yaʿbudūna

[Angels], gather together those who did wrong, and others like them, as well as whatever they worshipped

min dūni l-lahi fa-ih'dūhum ilā ṣirāṭi l-jaḥīmi

beside God, lead them all to the path of Hell,

waqifūhum innahum masūlūna

and halt them for questioning:

mā lakum lā tanāṣarūna

“Why do you not support each other now?” ’––

bal humu l-yawma mus'taslimūna

no indeed! They will be in complete submission on that Day––

wa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatasāalūna

and they will turn on one another accusingly.

qālū innakum kuntum tatūnanā ʿani l-yamīni

They will say, ‘You came to us from a position of power.’

qālū bal lam takūnū mu'minīna

They will say, ‘No! It was you who would not believe-

wamā kāna lanā ʿalaykum min sul'ṭānin bal kuntum qawman ṭāghīna

we had no power over you- and you were already exceeding all limits.

faḥaqqa ʿalaynā qawlu rabbinā innā ladhāiqūna

Our Lord’s sentence on us is just and we must all taste the punishment.

fa-aghwaynākum innā kunnā ghāwīna

We led you astray as we ourselves were astray.’

fa-innahum yawma-idhin fī l-ʿadhābi mush'tarikūna

On that Day they will all share the torment:

innā kadhālika nafʿalu bil-muj'rimīna

this is how We deal with the guilty.

innahum kānū idhā qīla lahum lā ilāha illā l-lahu yastakbirūna

Whenever it was said to them, ‘There is no deity but God,’ they became arrogant,

wayaqūlūna a-innā latārikū ālihatinā lishāʿirin majnūnin

and said, ‘Are we to forsake our gods for a mad poet?’

bal jāa bil-ḥaqi waṣaddaqa l-mur'salīna

‘No: he brought the truth and confirmed the earlier messengers;

innakum ladhāiqū l-ʿadhābi l-alīmi

you will taste the painful torment,

wamā tuj'zawna illā mā kuntum taʿmalūna

and be repaid only according to your deeds.’

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

Not so God’s true servants.

ulāika lahum riz'qun maʿlūmun

They will have familiar provisions––

fawākihu wahum muk'ramūna

fruits- and will be honoured

fī jannāti l-naʿīmi

in gardens of delight;

ʿalā sururin mutaqābilīna

seated on couches, facing one another.

yuṭāfu ʿalayhim bikasin min maʿīnin

A drink will be passed round among them from a flowing spring:

bayḍāa ladhatin lilshāribīna

white, delicious to those who taste it,

lā fīhā ghawlun walā hum ʿanhā yunzafūna

causing no headiness or intoxication.

waʿindahum qāṣirātu l-ṭarfi ʿīnun

With them will be spouses- modest of gaze and beautiful of eye-

ka-annahunna bayḍun maknūnun

like protected eggs.

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatasāalūna

They will turn to one another with questions:

qāla qāilun min'hum innī kāna lī qarīnun

one will say, ‘I had a close companion on earth

yaqūlu a-innaka lamina l-muṣadiqīna

who used to ask me, “Do you really believe that

a-idhā mit'nā wakunnā turāban waʿiẓāman a-innā lamadīnūna

after we die and become dust and bone, we shall be brought for judgement?”’

qāla hal antum muṭṭaliʿūna

Then he will say, ‘Shall we look for him?’

fa-iṭṭalaʿa faraāhu fī sawāi l-jaḥīmi

He will look down and see him in the midst of the Fire,

qāla tal-lahi in kidtta latur'dīni

and say to him, ‘By God, you almost brought me to ruin!

walawlā niʿ'matu rabbī lakuntu mina l-muḥ'ḍarīna

Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I too would have been taken to Hell.’

afamā naḥnu bimayyitīna

Then he will say [to his blessed companions], ‘Are we never to die again after our earlier death?

illā mawtatanā l-ūlā wamā naḥnu bimuʿadhabīna

Shall we never suffer?

inna hādhā lahuwa l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīmu

This truly is the supreme triumph!’

limith'li hādhā falyaʿmali l-ʿāmilūna

Everyone should strive to attain this.

adhālika khayrun nuzulan am shajaratu l-zaqūmi

Is this the better welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum,

innā jaʿalnāhā fit'natan lilẓẓālimīna

which we have made a test for the evildoers?

innahā shajaratun takhruju fī aṣli l-jaḥīmi

This tree grows in the heart of the blazing Fire,

ṭalʿuhā ka-annahu ruūsu l-shayāṭīni

and its fruits are like devils’ heads.

fa-innahum laākilūna min'hā famāliūna min'hā l-buṭūna

They will fill their bellies eating from it;

thumma inna lahum ʿalayhā lashawban min ḥamīmin

then drink scalding water on top of it;

thumma inna marjiʿahum la-ilā l-jaḥīmi

then return to the blazing Fire.

innahum alfaw ābāahum ḍāllīna

They found their forefathers astray,

fahum ʿalā āthārihim yuh'raʿūna

and rushed to follow in their footsteps- before the disbelievers [of Mecca],

walaqad ḍalla qablahum aktharu l-awalīna

most men in the past went astray,

walaqad arsalnā fīhim mundhirīna

even though We sent messengers to warn them.

fa-unẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mundharīna

See how those who were warned met their end!

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

Not so the true servants of God.

walaqad nādānā nūḥun falaniʿ'ma l-mujībūna

Noah cried to Us, and how excellent was Our response!

wanajjaynāhu wa-ahlahu mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi

We saved him and his people from great distress,

wajaʿalnā dhurriyyatahu humu l-bāqīna

We let his offspring remain on the earth,

wataraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ākhirīna

We let him be praised by later generations:

salāmun ʿalā nūḥin fī l-ʿālamīna

‘Peace be upon Noah among all the nations!’

innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

This is how We reward those who do good:

innahu min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

he was truly one of Our faithful servants.

thumma aghraqnā l-ākharīna

We drowned the rest.

wa-inna min shīʿatihi la-ib'rāhīma

Abraham was of the same faith:

idh jāa rabbahu biqalbin salīmin

he came to his Lord with a devoted heart.

idh qāla li-abīhi waqawmihi mādhā taʿbudūna

He said to his father and his people, ‘What are you worshipping?

a-if'kan ālihatan dūna l-lahi turīdūna

How can you choose false gods instead of the true God?

famā ẓannukum birabbi l-ʿālamīna

So what is your opinion about the Lord of all the Worlds?’

fanaẓara naẓratan fī l-nujūmi

then he looked up to the stars.

faqāla innī saqīmun

He said, ‘I am sick,’

fatawallaw ʿanhu mud'birīna

so [his people] turned away from him and left.

farāgha ilā ālihatihim faqāla alā takulūna

He turned to their gods and said, ‘Do you not eat?

mā lakum lā tanṭiqūna

Why do you not speak?’

farāgha ʿalayhim ḍarban bil-yamīni

then he turned and struck them with his right arm.

fa-aqbalū ilayhi yaziffūna

His people hurried towards him,

qāla ataʿbudūna mā tanḥitūna

but he said, ‘How can you worship things you carve with your own hands,

wal-lahu khalaqakum wamā taʿmalūna

when it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?’

qālū ib'nū lahu bun'yānan fa-alqūhu fī l-jaḥīmi

They said, ‘Build a pyre and throw him into the blazing fire.’

fa-arādū bihi kaydan fajaʿalnāhumu l-asfalīna

They wanted to harm him, but We humiliated them.

waqāla innī dhāhibun ilā rabbī sayahdīni

He said, ‘I will go to my Lord: He is sure to guide me.

rabbi hab lī mina l-ṣāliḥīna

Lord, grant me a righteous son,’

fabasharnāhu bighulāmin ḥalīmin

so We gave him the good news that he would have a patient son.

falammā balagha maʿahu l-saʿya qāla yābunayya innī arā fī l-manāmi annī adhbaḥuka fa-unẓur mādhā tarā qāla yāabati if'ʿal mā tu'maru satajidunī in shāa l-lahu mina l-ṣābirīna

When the boy was old enough to work with his father, Abraham said, ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast.’

falammā aslamā watallahu lil'jabīni

When they had both submitted to God, and he had laid his son down on the side of his face,

wanādaynāhu an yāib'rāhīmu

We called out to him, ‘Abraham,

qad ṣaddaqta l-ru'yā innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

you have fulfilled the dream.’ This is how We reward those who do good-

inna hādhā lahuwa l-balāu l-mubīnu

it was a test to prove [their true characters]-

wafadaynāhu bidhib'ḥin ʿaẓīmin

We ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice,

wataraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ākhirīna

and We let him be praised by succeeding generations:

salāmun ʿalā ib'rāhīma

‘Peace be upon Abraham!’

kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

This is how We reward those who do good:

innahu min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

truly he was one of Our faithful servants.

wabasharnāhu bi-is'ḥāqa nabiyyan mina l-ṣāliḥīna

We gave Abraham the good news of Isaac- a prophet and a righteous man-

wabāraknā ʿalayhi waʿalā is'ḥāqa wamin dhurriyyatihimā muḥ'sinun waẓālimun linafsihi mubīnun

and blessed him and Isaac too: some of their offspring were good, but some clearly wronged themselves.

walaqad manannā ʿalā mūsā wahārūna

We also bestowed Our favour on Moses and Aaron:

wanajjaynāhumā waqawmahumā mina l-karbi l-ʿaẓīmi

We saved them and their people from great distress;

wanaṣarnāhum fakānū humu l-ghālibīna

We helped them, so they were the ones to succeed;

waātaynāhumā l-kitāba l-mus'tabīna

We gave them the Scripture that makes things clear;

wahadaynāhumā l-ṣirāṭa l-mus'taqīma

We guided them to the right path;

wataraknā ʿalayhimā fī l-ākhirīna

We let them be praised by succeeding generations:

salāmun ʿalā mūsā wahārūna

‘Peace be upon Moses and Aaron!’

innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

This is how We reward those who do good:

innahumā min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

truly they were among Our faithful servants.

wa-inna il'yāsa lamina l-mur'salīna

Elijah too was one of the messengers.

idh qāla liqawmihi alā tattaqūna

He said to his people, ‘Have you no fear of God?

atadʿūna baʿlan watadharūna aḥsana l-khāliqīna

How can you invoke Baal and forsake the Most Gracious Creator,

al-laha rabbakum warabba ābāikumu l-awalīna

God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?’

fakadhabūhu fa-innahum lamuḥ'ḍarūna

but they rejected him. They will be brought to punishment as a consequence;

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

not so the true servants of God.

wataraknā ʿalayhi fī l-ākhirīna

We let him be praised by succeeding generations:

salāmun ʿalā il yāsīna

‘Peace be to Elijah!’

innā kadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīna

This is how We reward those who do good:

innahu min ʿibādinā l-mu'minīna

truly he was one of Our faithful servants.

wa-inna lūṭan lamina l-mur'salīna

Lot was also one of the messengers.

idh najjaynāhu wa-ahlahu ajmaʿīna

We saved him and all his family-

illā ʿajūzan fī l-ghābirīna

except for an old woman who stayed behind-

thumma dammarnā l-ākharīna

and We destroyed the rest.

wa-innakum latamurrūna ʿalayhim muṣ'biḥīna

You [people] pass by their ruins morning

wabi-al-layli afalā taʿqilūna

and night: will you not take heed?

wa-inna yūnusa lamina l-mur'salīna

Jonah too was one of the messengers.

idh abaqa ilā l-ful'ki l-mashḥūni

He fled to the overloaded ship.

fasāhama fakāna mina l-mud'ḥaḍīna

They cast lots, he suffered defeat,

fal-taqamahu l-ḥūtu wahuwa mulīmun

and a great fish swallowed him, for he had committed blameworthy acts.

falawlā annahu kāna mina l-musabiḥīna

If he had not been one of those who glorified God,

lalabitha fī baṭnihi ilā yawmi yub'ʿathūna

he would have stayed in its belly until the Day when all are raised up,

fanabadhnāhu bil-ʿarāi wahuwa saqīmun

but We cast him out, sick, on to a barren shore,

wa-anbatnā ʿalayhi shajaratan min yaqṭīnin

and made a gourd tree grow above him.

wa-arsalnāhu ilā mi-ati alfin aw yazīdūna

We sent him to a hundred thousand people or more.

faāmanū famattaʿnāhum ilā ḥīnin

They believed, so We let them live out their lives.

fa-is'taftihim alirabbika l-banātu walahumu l-banūna

Now [Muhammad], ask the disbelievers: is it true that your Lord has daughters, while they choose sons for themselves?

am khalaqnā l-malāikata ināthan wahum shāhidūna

Did We create the angels as females while they were watching?

alā innahum min if'kihim layaqūlūna

No indeed! It is one of their lies when they say,

walada l-lahu wa-innahum lakādhibūna

‘God has begotten.’ How they lie!

aṣṭafā l-banāti ʿalā l-banīna

Did He truly choose daughters in preference to sons?

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna

What is the matter with you? How do you form your judgements?

afalā tadhakkarūna

Do you not reflect?

am lakum sul'ṭānun mubīnun

Do you perhaps have clear authority?

fatū bikitābikum in kuntum ṣādiqīna

Bring your scriptures, if you are telling the truth.

wajaʿalū baynahu wabayna l-jinati nasaban walaqad ʿalimati l-jinatu innahum lamuḥ'ḍarūna

They claim that He has kinship with the jinn, yet the jinn themselves know that they will be brought before Him.

sub'ḥāna l-lahi ʿammā yaṣifūna

God is far above what they attribute to Him-

illā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

the true servants of God do not do such things-

fa-innakum wamā taʿbudūna

and neither you nor what you worship

mā antum ʿalayhi bifātinīna

can lure away from God any

illā man huwa ṣāli l-jaḥīmi

except those who will burn in Hell.

wamā minnā illā lahu maqāmun maʿlūmun

[The angels say], ‘Every single one of us has his appointed place:

wa-innā lanaḥnu l-ṣāfūna

we are ranged in ranks.

wa-innā lanaḥnu l-musabiḥūna

We glorify God.’

wa-in kānū layaqūlūna

[The disbelievers] used to say,

law anna ʿindanā dhik'ran mina l-awalīna

‘If only we had a scripture like previous people,

lakunnā ʿibāda l-lahi l-mukh'laṣīna

we would be true servants of God,’

fakafarū bihi fasawfa yaʿlamūna

yet now they reject [the Quran]. They will soon realize.

walaqad sabaqat kalimatunā liʿibādinā l-mur'salīna

Our word has already been given to Our servants the messengers:

innahum lahumu l-manṣūrūna

it is they who will be helped,

wa-inna jundanā lahumu l-ghālibūna

and the ones who support Our cause will be the winners.

fatawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin

So [Prophet] turn away from the disbelievers for a while.

wa-abṣir'hum fasawfa yub'ṣirūna

Watch them: they will soon see.

afabiʿadhābinā yastaʿjilūna

Do they really wish to hasten Our punishment?

fa-idhā nazala bisāḥatihim fasāa ṣabāḥu l-mundharīna

When it descends on their courtyards, how ter-rible that morning will be for those who were warned!

watawalla ʿanhum ḥattā ḥīnin

[Prophet], turn away from the disbelievers for a while.

wa-abṣir fasawfa yub'ṣirūna

Watch them: they will soon see.

sub'ḥāna rabbika rabbi l-ʿizati ʿammā yaṣifūna

Your Lord, the Lord of Glory, is far above what they attribute to Him.

wasalāmun ʿalā l-mur'salīna

Peace be upon the messengers

wal-ḥamdu lillahi rabbi l-ʿālamīna

and praise be to God the Lord of all the Worlds.